Self-Launched Bali & Lombok Island Hopping: Gilis, Nusa Lembongan & the Secret Southwest Gilis
7 days · Bali & Lombok, Indonesia
G Adventures charges £1,750
No-markup version: ~£410 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of the G Adventures Bali & Lombok sailing week — same coastline, same Gilis, same turtles, minus the catamaran price tag. Instead of six nights in a shared cabin on a 17m catamaran, you island-hop by fast boat and local ferry between Sanur/Serangan, Nusa Lembongan, Gili Trawangan, the quiet southwest Gilis (Sudak, Nanggu, Gede) and Gili Asahan, staying in beach guesthouses and hostels and booking snorkelling, kayaking and diving trips directly with local operators via GetYourGuide, Klook or at the jetty. You'll snorkel with sea turtles off Gili Trawangan and Nusa Penida, kayak the mangroves, catch a beach BBQ on Gili Sudak, and do yoga at sunset — all at roughly a fifth of the operator's price. All costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Serangan/Sanur — meet the group, sunset on the beach
Sanur, Bali
Fly into Denpasar (DPS) and make your own way to Sanur — a metered Blue Bird taxi or Grab/Gojek is 30–40 mins and around IDR 150,000–200,000 (£8–11); there's no need to pre-book the operator's airport transfer. Check into a beach-side guesthouse or hostel in Sanur or nearby Serangan and spend the afternoon settling in. If you've assembled a travel crew, hold your own 'welcome meeting' over a Bintang on Sanur's beachfront promenade — the same Gold Island Beach Club area the tour uses is a 15-min taxi away if you want the exact departure feel. Book tomorrow's fast boat to Nusa Lembongan tonight (either online or at Sanur Beach jetty). Dinner at a local warung: nasi campur or grilled fish for £4–6.
🚌Airport taxi/Grab to Sanur ~£9; local taxis and Gojek around town
🛏Beach guesthouse or hostel dorm/private in Sanur (£12–18 per night)
- →Sunset walk on Sanur Beach promenade
- →Book fast boat to Nusa Lembongan
- →Warung dinner and trip-planning session
Sanur → Nusa Lembongan: mangroves, Dream Beach & Lembongan Island
Nusa Lembongan
Take the morning fast boat from Sanur Beach to Nusa Lembongan (30–40 mins, roughly IDR 175,000–250,000 / £9–13 one way with operators like Scoot or Rocky Fast Cruises). Drop bags at a beach bungalow, then rent a scooter (IDR 75,000–100,000 / £4–5 per day) or join a shared island tour to hit Dream Beach, Devil's Tear, the Yellow Bridge and the mangroves. In the afternoon take a self-guided or small-group mangrove kayak/SUP tour (book via Klook or a local operator, ~£10–14) — this replaces the operator's kayaking excursions. Sunset at Mushroom Bay with a cheap seafood BBQ on the sand.
🚌Sanur–Nusa Lembongan fast boat ~£11 one way; scooter rental ~£5/day
🛏Beachfront bungalow or guesthouse, Mushroom Bay/Jungutbatu (£14–20 per night)
- →Fast boat crossing from Sanur
- →Dream Beach & Devil's Tear
- →Mangrove forest kayak or SUP tour
- →Sunset seafood BBQ at Mushroom Bay
Nusa Penida day trip — snorkel with manta rays and turtles
Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan
Cross the short strait to Nusa Penida for the day (local boat from Toyapakeh/Lembongan ~£4–6 each way, or a combined tour). Book a small-group snorkelling trip covering Manta Point, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay — the highlight being manta rays and green sea turtles (via GetYourGuide or Klook, ~£28–38 including gear and boat). Skipping the west-coast viewpoints keeps costs low; add Kelingking Beach only if you have the energy (scooter + entrance ~£6). Return to Lembongan for a cheap warung dinner and a cold drink.
🚌Local boat to Penida ~£5 return; scooter or shared van on the island
🛏Beachfront bungalow or guesthouse, Nusa Lembongan (£14–20 per night)
- →Nusa Penida snorkelling trip (Manta Point, Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay)
- →Sea turtle spotting
- →Optional Kelingking Beach viewpoint
Long travel day: Lembongan → Bali → Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, Lombok
This is the day the catamaran does in one overnight sail — you'll do it by fast boat and road. Take the morning boat back to Sanur, then a fast boat direct from Sanur/Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan (Eka Jaya or similar, 2–2.5 hrs, ~£35–45 one way), or the slower public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar followed by a local boat to the Gilis if you want the cheapest route (~£8–12 but a full day). Check into a hostel or bungalow on Gili T and keep the evening low-key: night market satay and a sunset drink on the west side. Note: no flights needed on the operator version either, but plan for boats to be weather-dependent — carry a buffer day if you can.
🚌Lembongan–Sanur boat ~£11; Sanur–Gili Trawangan fast boat ~£40
🛏Hostel dorm or bungalow on Gili Trawangan (£10–16 per night)
- →Fast boat crossing to the Gilis
- →Gili Trawangan night market street food
- →Sunset at the west-side beach bars
Gili Trawangan & Gili Meno: turtles, swings and snorkel boats
Gili Trawangan / Gili Meno
Do the classic three-Gilis snorkel day the independent way: join a shared glass-bottom snorkel boat that loops Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air (~£15–20, 4 hrs, incl. gear; bookable on the beach or via Klook). You'll hit the Meno turtle point, the underwater statues and the snorkel-friendly reefs — same water, no cabin. Rent a bike (no motorised vehicles on the Gilis, ~£3/day) and circle the island to the famous sunset swings. Optional afternoon dive intro on Trawangan (~£45) or yoga class (~£8–12) instead of the onboard yoga sessions.
🚌Bicycle rental ~£3/day; snorkel boat included in tour price
🛏Hostel dorm or bungalow on Gili Trawangan (£10–16 per night)
- →Three-Gili shared snorkel boat trip
- →Turtle point at Gili Meno
- →Bike loop and sunset swings
- →Optional intro dive or yoga class
The secret southwest Gilis: Sudak, Nanggu, Gede & Gili Asahan
Gili Sudak / Gili Nanggu / Gili Gede / Gili Asahan
Head for the quiet southwest coast of Lombok, the part most travellers miss. From Trawangan take a local boat or fast boat back to Lombok (Bangsal/Lembar, ~£6–10), then a shared bemo or ojek to Tembowong/Taun on the southwest peninsula and hop local boats between Gili Sudak, Gili Nanggu (great snorkelling straight off the beach) and Gili Gede (~£3–6 per hop). Overnight on Gili Asahan or Gili Gede in a fisherman's homestay or simple bungalow. Tonight's the beach BBQ night on Sudak in the original itinerary — replicate it by buying fish at the Tembowong market and asking your homestay to grill it, or joining a local BBQ shack (£6–9).
🚌Gili T–Lombok boat ~£8; shared bemo/ojek ~£5; local island boats ~£4
🛏Simple beach bungalow or homestay, Gili Asahan/Gili Gede (£12–18 per night)
- →Local boat hopping between Gili Sudak, Nanggu and Gede
- →Snorkelling from Gili Nanggu beach
- →Beach BBQ on Gili Sudak
- →Sunset over the Lombok Strait
Return to Bali via Lembongan/Serangan — trip ends
Gili Asahan → Bali (Sanur)
Make your way back to Lombok mainland (or catch the fast boat from Gili Gede/Lembar) and take a fast boat across to Sanur/Serangan — book the Lombok–Bali fast boat ahead (~£40–50) or take the public ferry Lembar–Padang Bai (~£5) plus a bus/taxi to Sanur (~£8) if you're on a tight budget. Trip ends on arrival. If you've got time, the same fast boats can drop you at Lembongan for one last night. Allow a buffer before your flight — afternoon seas get choppy and delays happen. Last warung meal and swap numbers with your travel crew.
🚌Local boat to Lombok ~£4; fast boat Lombok–Bali ~£45 or public ferry ~£5 + bus ~£8
🛏Not included — optional final night in Sanur (£12–18) or airport transit
- →Boat transfer back to Bali
- →Final swim at Sanur Beach
- →Optional last night on Nusa Lembongan
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£410 | £1,750 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,340 per person (77%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£410
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Bali & Lombok Island Hopping: Gilis, Nusa Lembongan & the Secret Southwest Gilis cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £410 per person for 7 days in Bali & Lombok, Indonesia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,750 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £410 — a saving of roughly £1,340 (77%) per person.
How long is the Bali & Lombok, Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Bali & Lombok, Indonesia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, backpacker trip through Bali & Lombok, Indonesia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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